But in the mysterious case of the exploding fowl, the devices seem more in line with what conservationists would use to keep track of rare species rather than military or incendiary technology. Amid the feathers and electronic wreckage, the NBC video shows a tag labeled "ECCH," which, as Inquistr noted, is an acronym for Emirates Center for Conservation of Houbara. (The ECCH did not immediately respond to a call for comment.)

UPDATE 10:30 a.m. 12/2 - The Emirates Center for Conservation of Houbara has confirmed this is an Asian houbara bustard. In an email to The Dodo, Adeline Cadet, ECCH's operations manager, wrote:

This bird killed by Afghani police is part of a captive breeding program managed by the NGO ECCH based in the republic of Uzbekistan.

This bird is a male that was bred during the season 2014 and was released on the 15th September 2014 near the city of Navoi in Uzbekistan. The bird was equipped with a GPS-PTT transmitter, ID 140808 from Microwave Telemetry, in order to monitor its movement as part of a scientific program studying the migration of the houbara bustard species.

For information, the houbara male is about 2 kg [4.4 lbs], the GPS – transmitter is about 30g. Looking at videos and pictures, anyone can find out that this bird did not experience a "considerable explosion."